how to get window with semi-transparent blurred background

Question

I\'d like to get a window that has a semi-transparent blurred background, just like what the Terminal can do. See this video, about 30 sec in, to see what I mean: http://www.you

Answer 1

For those reading this in 2017 and using Swift 4 and wanting to change your BG Alpha you can add the following to your custom NSWindow class:

self.backgroundColor = NSColor.black
self.backgroundColor = NSColor.init(calibratedHue: 0, saturation: 0, brightness: 0, alpha: 0.2)

p.s. I do not need the blur effect yet and when I do, I'll update the answer

Answer 2

For the transparency use Jiulong Zhao's suggestion.

For a blurred background use this

The call on a NSWindow :

[self enableBlurForWindow:self];

The function :

-(void)enableBlurForWindow:(NSWindow *)window
{
    //!!!! Uses private API - copied from http://blog.steventroughtonsmith.com/2008/03/using-core-image-filters-onunder.html

    CGSConnection thisConnection;
    uint32_t compositingFilter;
    int compositingType = 1; // Under the window

    /* Make a new connection to CoreGraphics */
    CGSNewConnection(NULL, &thisConnection);

    /* Create a CoreImage filter and set it up */
    CGSNewCIFilterByName(thisConnection, (CFStringRef)@"CIGaussianBlur", &compositingFilter);
    NSDictionary *options = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObject:[NSNumber numberWithFloat:2.0] forKey:@"inputRadius"];
    CGSSetCIFilterValuesFromDictionary(thisConnection, compositingFilter, (__bridge CFDictionaryRef)options);

    /* Now apply the filter to the window */
    CGSAddWindowFilter(thisConnection, [window windowNumber], compositingFilter, compositingType);
}

NB: It uses a private API

Answer 3

no need for layers and filters, NSWindow can do it itself

[mywindow setOpaque:NO];
[mywindow setBackgroundColor: [NSColor colorWithCalibratedHue:0.0 saturation:0.0 brightness:0.2 alpha:0.5]];

please do not use this, as it will alpha your title bar also (post it here just in case others need)

[mywindow setOpaque:NO];
[mywindow setBackgroundColor: [NSColor blackColor]];
[mywindow setAlphaValue:0.5];